Proposed 72-game season would end only a week later

David Stern and the owners have proposed a 72-game schedule if the players accept the deal early next week.

Stern’s plans would be to have a short free-agent period and a compact training camp before starting games on Dec. 15.

Trimming 10 games off the schedule would cost the players and the owners. But fans might benefit from a shorter schedule, as many observers have been stating that better effort might be seen with fewer games.

Stern’s plans would start the playoffs a week later than last season, when Dallas claimed a series-clinching Game 6 victory over Miami in the NBA Finals on June 12.

It likely would still not reach the league’s record for a latest finish of a season, which came during the Spurs’ 1999 title run. The Spurs won that series in five games over New York, with the final game coming on June 25.

This plan would enable NBA players to join their Olympic teams later in the season. And it sounds to be a workable deal.

How about it Spurs Nation? Would you think a 72-game season might result in more competitive games than the current 82-game schedule. And would you have any problems with the playoffs finishing a week later in June?